Lorillard Tobacco Company Comments On Activity in Suit Against American Legacy Foundation

The following is a statement by Ron Milstein, Senior Vice President, Legal and External Affairs, Lorillard Tobacco Company, regarding today's hearing on a motion for summary judgment in Lorillard's suit against the American Legacy Foundation:

"Our position all along has been that this case is not about money, or about shutting down an effective youth smoking prevention program. This is simply about American Legacy's breach of contract under the Master Settlement Agreement which led to its creation. They misused money which was to be used explicitly to reduce youth smoking and to educate the public about the health effects of using tobacco products - in a calculated smear campaign designed to vilify our company, its people and our industry.

"By attacking us and the tobacco industry, they have breached the Master Settlement Agreement. We simply feel that American Legacy has forfeited its rights to serve as the vehicle designated by the attorneys' general to carry forth this important public health initiative.

"Lorillard will not receive - nor is it asking - for one penny of the MSA money back. We simply want the court to order that the millions that American Legacy has retained from the tobacco companies be returned to the National Association of Attorneys' General, so it may be redistributed to a new organization which would uphold the Master Settlement Agreement and use the funds appropriately.

"We are confident that the judge understood our position and look forward to his decision in the near future."

The American Legacy Foundation is one of the ugliest coalitions around. They have gross TV ads plus they are using the MSA money like the lost a rich dead uncle!

The Tobacco Settlement Money is being paid for 100% by smokers who pay taxes on cigarettes. NOT Big Tobacco and NOT the government. But the SMOKERS!!!

I can't repeat this enough! Most people believe that the Tobacco Settlement money is being paid for by Big Tobacco and/or the government. NOT TRUE PEOPLE! The SMOKERS TAX DOLLARS are paying billions into their state.

Click on your state to find out just how much the smoker's are paying into the state economy. Yes! We are paying for this personal abuse of bans, restrictions and control. Is anyone sick of this yet??!!!

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View your tobacco taxes, a comparison of state excise taxes on cigarettes to state excise taxes on beer and wine, MSA payments to date, State laws, and links to other state-specific information.

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<whiny voice> But what will happen to the people of the American Legacy Foundation if they lose the lawsuit? Will they lose their jobs? Will they and their families be left homeless and starving? </whiny voice>

I sure hope so! The Tobacco Settlement created a lot of ant jobs that we can do without. They are also the state's Pet Programs that we can do without!

Instead of using that money for education and smoking cessation, they are using it to further ban, control and restrict smokers. That is not what that money was supposed to be used for.

Also, that money was supposed to be used for any uninsured sick smokers should there be any.

But instead, the anti's have used that money to build big expensive golf courses and to sponsor race tracks and racing teams and to plant gardens in the center of town. Talk about a mis use of money! Yes! I hope they DO lost their jobs. The smoker's tax dollars can be used for a much better cause!

Oh yes. And the state's using this money to balance their budgets! What EVER would they do withOUT us! heh!

Great info on the links. To top it off, the Texas legislature is considering several bills which propose to raise the smoke tax yet again.

Just click on Texas and see what the smoker's in Texas are already contributing to the state economy. And they want to raise taxes again???? What a crock of chit! They must think we are totally stupid out here.

Let them go after some one else that doesn't smoke! Make some of these anti's cry in their beer. LOL!

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